Massa: Ferrari Experience Will Pay Off

Brazilian Felipe Massa is confident a year testing with the Ferrari team have given him the knowledge to be a better racing driver in 2004.

"The Ferrari team has been for me an incredible university. To work with [Michael] Schumacher and [Rubens] Barrichello was very important," Massa told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. "My experience today isn't comparable with that from one year ago.

"My deep knowledge of Ferrari will be important: my advice will help the engineers to work in the right direction. At Hinwil, nobody wants to disappoint in the 2004 Championship."

Massa made his Formula One debut with the Sauber team in 2002, but was left without a seat last season and he joined World Champions Ferrari as a test driver. The 22-year old is now back at Sauber and will return to racing at the start of the 2004 season.

Massa was at the wheel of the Sauber on Monday for the first time since his return. Only last week, however, he was still carrying out testing duties for Ferrari.

"It doesn't often happen that a racing driver drives for two teams, but I'm a professional, so I adapt to do what I'm asked," he added.

The Brazilian said he would like to return to Ferrari in the future, but only if he had a race seat.

"I've been a Ferrari fan since I was a kid. If one day I race with them I'll be the happiest man on Earth," Massa said.